Iddah in the Quran and Sunnah: Dignity Not Imprisonment Dr Shabir Choudhry, 15 December 2025, London

 Iddah in the Quran and Sunnah: Dignity Not Imprisonment

Dr Shabir Choudhry, 15 December 2025, London

1/ The concept of Iddah (waiting period) after the death of a husband is clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an. Allah says:

“Those of you who die and leave behind wives—let them wait by themselves for four months and ten days. Then, when they have completed their term, there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in a lawful manner. And Allah is fully aware of what you do.”

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:234)

This verse establishes one unambiguous rule:

A widow may not remarry during this period.

Importantly, the Qur’an:

• Does not order confinement
• Does not forbid leaving the home when necessary.
• Does not prohibit work or public interaction when necessary.

The silence of the Qur’an here is deliberate, not accidental.

2/ Prophetic Practice: The Decisive Evidence

The Sunnah clarifies how this verse was implemented in real life.

Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrates:

My aunt was divorced and wanted to go out to harvest her date palms. A man objected, saying she should not leave her house during ʿiddah. She went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him. He replied:

 

“Yes, go and harvest your date palms, for perhaps you will give charity or do something good.”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Talaq, Hadith 1483)

This hadith is:

• Authentic
• Clear
• Legally decisive

The Prophet ﷺ explicitly allowed:

• Leaving the house
• Working
• Economic independence
• Social benefit

Had confinement been obligatory, he would have corrected her. He did not.

3/ Support from Classical Jurists (Where Relevant)

It is important to note that not all classical jurists held the same view, but many respected authorities explicitly supported mobility and necessity during ʿiddah.

Imam Malik (d. 179 AH)

Held that a woman in ʿiddah may leave her home for her needs, especially during the day.

Imam al-Nawawi (d. 676 AH). In his commentary on Sahih Muslim, he writes that this hadith proves: “The permissibility of a woman leaving her home during ʿiddah for her needs and livelihood.”

Imam Ibn Qudamah (d. 620 AH)

States in al-Mughni that:

“If a woman has no one to provide for her, she may go out to work during her Iddah.”

These jurists were not modern reformers; they were pillars of classical Fiqh.

4/ What Scholars Differed On — and Why It Doesn’t Override the Sunnah

Some jurists preferred that a widow remain in her marital home when possible. However:

• This was based on prudence, not prohibition
• It was context-dependent
• It never amounted to house arrest

No school of law:

• Required neglect of children
• Forbade earning a living
• Allowed harm or hardship

Islamic law is governed by the principle:

“Hardship brings ease.”

(al-mashaqqah tajlib al-taysir)

5/ The Reality of Widows Today

Consider a widow with young children:

• Who takes them to school, and collects them after school?
• Who buys food for the family?
• Who takes them to the doctor or hospital?
• Who earns if there is no male guardian?

Islam does not issue commands divorced from reality.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“There should be neither harm nor causing harm.”

Anything that can result in harm must be avoided; the interpretation of that is:

• Harm to children, their health, well-being, etc.
• Forces dependency, which makes the family or the people dependent.
• Creates humiliation for the family or the people.

6/ Contradicts the objectives of Shariah (Maqasid al-Shariah).

Culture Is Not Revelation

Sadly, many restrictions are imposed on widows and women in general today:

• Stemming from cultural patriarchy
• Are reinforced by fear-based sermons
• Ignore authentic hadith
• Confuse social control with piety

Our lives and actions are moulded or controlled by the social norms, which many times contradict the Islamic teachings. Before doing anything, people in general will not think about what Allah will say; they think about what the people will say.

That means we cannot live how we want to live. We live how other people would like us to live. In my experience, you can never satisfy the people. So don’t live for the people, live for yourself and your family.

Islam is not honoured by cruelty; it is honoured by justice, mercy, and wisdom.

7/ Conclusion

Iddah is a period of dignity and transition, not confinement.

The Qur’an commands waiting before remarriage.

The Prophet ﷺ allowed movement, work, and social contribution.

Classical jurists confirmed this where necessity exists.

To imprison widows in the name of Islam is to betray the Prophet’s practice, not defend it. END